Most people responding to the Argus-Courier’s online poll this week thought that if SMART train installs a second station in Petaluma, it should be at the originally proposed location of Corona Road and North McDowell Boulevard. About  34 percent thought it should be at another site that SMART appears to be considering, the Old Adobe Lumberyard at Old Redwood Highway. About 9 percent thought it should be somewhere else entirely.
About 52 percent of people polled said they plan to ride the SMART train for personal reasons, while only 15 percent said they’d commute to work on the train. About 32 percent said they didn’t plan to ride at all.
Here were some of the comments.
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“Both the lumber yard and Corona are good places but I can only pick one so it’s Corona only because it’s closer to housing and maybe people can walk to catch it. But I really don’t think anyone will because people will drive if they are only going one block.”
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“Can’t wait for the SMART train —- it’s been a long time coming. I think people will be surprised how much they will use it over time. After all, it’s all about the future!”
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“Doesn’t really go anywhere I need to.”
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“I’m not sure how successful SMART will be with its limited reach, but if a second station is built, it should be located on the east side of town where the greatest population resides. The Corona location would be ideal for those who commute north or south since it’s an easy walk from many residential neighborhoods as well as North McDowell office complexes.”
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“It doesn’t go anywhere I commute to. It will not go anywhere I want to go to for personal reasons. Novato or San Rafael.”
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“Need to provide parking for riders. I don’t think Corona Road or Old Redwood Highway will work. With public bus transportation maybe one station will work best.”
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“The second station should be located where buses & bicycle/pedestrian paths will allow best access to the most people without needing the use of cars.”
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“The SMART train will take pressure off of 101 and will provide a safe and efficient alternative mode of public transportation. I plan to ride it a lot.”
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“This is just going to be another government boondoggle. How much are we going to be forced to pay to subsidize each individual rider?”
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“SMART will never put a train station at the Old Adobe lumberyard because it actually is a great idea that would benefit the train and the community. SMART’s real purpose is to build massive amounts of high density housing near their stations.
That’s why the construction industry is hard behind it. That’s why the cost vs. fare income numbers don’t add up. Housing construction jobs are the ones that SMART says that they will create. The train itself will generate no more than 100 permanent jobs.”
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Another waste of money.
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